This study examines the relationship between human values and saving behavior and analyzes the concepts of personal and cultural values. Drawing from a globally representative sample, we utilized data from the seventh wave of the World Values Survey (2017–2020) and Hofstede Insights (2022), encompassing 67,278 respondents across 48 countries. Two analytical steps were employed: Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to ensure that the selected items accurately measured personal values and a multilevel logit regression to identify associations between personal (individual level) and cultural (country level) values and saving behavior. Based on the Functional Theory of Values, our findings reveal that individuals with personal values of personal orientation and survival needs tend to save more money, while those with personal values of social orientation and thriving needs are less likely to save. At the cultural level, people in individualistic societies save more, whereas those living in countries with high uncertainty avoidance tend to save less.
